Science & Research education

Teaching & Outreach

I’m passionate about public engagement and science education. Over the years, I have developed instructional design materials on ecology and research for undergraduate and broader audience – check out the collaborative project “EcoEvoApps” for simulating mathematical models in EEB, and my earlier tutorials on research and writing at UCLA Library.

I have also been involved in public engagement, especially on topics related to science and nature. I have been a volunteer docent with the UT-student-run “Science Under the Stars” program, and with the Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin. I was a previous docent at the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden. I have also given public lectures on microbes and cultural use of plants.

Instructional Designs

Ecoevoapps, interactive apps to teach EEB models (2020-present)

In this collaborative project, we developed a set of interactive web apps to simulate EEB models, implemented them into undergraduate classes at two universities, and laid down frameworks allowing for ongoing contribution and use around the world.

Explore our apps, view our project repository, and read our paper in Ecology and Evolution for details. This fall, I will be incorporating the apps as I TA for Ecology at UT.

The Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model in EcoEvoApps
The Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model in EcoEvoApps

Writing instruction & research education at UCLA library (2019-2020)

I worked as an instructional designer at WI+RE (Writing instruction & research education), creating online tutorials and workshops to make research more accessible to undergraduate students.

Check out the website for all instructional materials and my contributions.

Public engagement

Volunteer at Science Under the Stars (2022-present)

SUTS is a free monthly public lecture series run by graduate students in the Integrative Biology Department at UT Austin. In addition to the lecture itself, each event also features a natural history table, a kids activity table, and a natural history tour, all with relevant themes.

Since 2022 I have mostly volunteered as a docent for the program, leading 30-min tours around the UT Brackenridge Field Laboratory where the event takes place. I focus on the history and natural history of this field station, as well as the diversity of research happening there.

The wall of deer antlers is one of my favorite places to show people, while telling the intriguing boom-and-bust story of the deer population at BFL. Deer shed their antlers every year, which were collected and tracked to individuals by the field station director Prof. Larry Gilbert.
The wall of deer antlers is one of my favorite places to show people, while telling the intriguing boom-and-bust story of the deer population at BFL. Deer shed their antlers every year, which were collected and tracked to individuals by the field station director Prof. Larry Gilbert.

Docent at Zilker Botanical Garden (2022-present)

Since 2022 I have volunteered as a docent at the local botanical garden in Austin. I lead 1-hour tours to school groups and general public, highlighting garden history, fun facts about plants, as well as plant evolution, food webs, ecosystems, and sustainability. I also help with garden education events like the annual Roots & Wings Festival and Dino Day.

I was introducing the importance of insects in ecosystems and showcasing an insect hotel to the tour group. It was repurposed from dead trees and allows insects such as beetles to inhabit.
I was introducing the importance of insects in ecosystems and showcasing an insect hotel to the tour group. It was repurposed from dead trees and allows insects such as beetles to inhabit.

Docent at Mathias Botanical Garden (2018-2020)

Similar to my current role at Zilker Botanical Garden, at Mathias Botanical Garden I volunteered as a garden docent and helped with education programs during my undergrad at UCLA.

Public lectures

In November 2022, I gave a public lecture on the importance of microbes for plants, people, and the ecosystem. The talk happened on site twice, once with SUTS at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (60+ audience), and once with the Neighborhood Science Program at the Austin Public Library Howson Branch(~10 audience). It was also streamed and recorded on YouTube (check out more SUTS talks)

In December 2020, I gave a virtual talk for the “Botany of the Holidays” series by UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden, featuring the Laba Garlic. I talked about garlic (Allium sativum), the chemistry of its green-turning process, and the importance of this food in the winter tradition of Northern China.

Laba Garlic made by me. Varying temperature and duration gave different intensity of green.
Laba Garlic made by me. Varying temperature and duration gave different intensity of green.

Table of Contents

  1. Instructional Design
    1. EcoEvoApps: interactive apps to teach EEB models
    2. Writing instruction & research education at UCLA library
  2. Public Engagement
    1. Science Under the Stars volunteer
    2. Zilker Botanical Garden docent
    3. UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden docent
    4. Public lectures